The latest data on personal income for local government areas (LGAs) was released in July 2011 in Estimates of Personal Income for Small Areas, Time Series, 2003-04 to 2008-09 (cat. no. 6524.0.55.002). This release contains data on the number of individuals and the amount of income received from Wages and salaries, Own unincorporated business, Investment, Superannuation and annuities, Other income (excluding Government pensions and allowances) and Total income (excluding Government pensions and allowances). Data is available for LGAs and a range of other geographic levels from statistical local areas up to Australia. These data can be used to answer questions such as 'What is the average total income in my local government area' or 'Which local government areas had the highest average total incomes'? This article will illustrate some uses of these data, and will explore the LGAs in each state and territory (excluding the Australian Capital Territory) with the highest average total incomes in 2008-09. More detailed data on Wage and salary earners was released on 12 August 2011 in Wage and Salary Earner Statistics for Small Areas, Time Series, 2003-04 to 2008-09 (cat. no. 5673.0.55.003).

In Australia in 2008-09 the Total income earned from all sources (excluding Government pensions and allowances) was $564.7 million. The income earned from each of the sources were:

$453.8 million from Wages and salaries

$35.5 million from Own unincorporated business

$61.6 million from Investments

$8.8 million from Superannuation and annuities; and

$5.0 million from Other income (excluding Government pensions and allowances).

In 2008-09 the average Total income from all sources (excluding Government pensions and allowances) in Australia was $46,904. This increased 5.6% from $44,402 in 2007-08. At the state/territory level, average Total income ranged from $55,714 in the Australian Capital Territory to $39,935 in Tasmania.

The ten highest average income LGAs in Australia in 2008-09 were all in New South Wales and Western Australia. The highest average Income in each state and territory varied from $130,637 in New South Wales (Mosman) to $51,228 in Tasmania (Hobart). The LGAs with the highest average total income in each state and territory are discussed below. This includes an analysis of the five LGAs in each state and territory (excluding the Australian Capital Territory) with the highest average total incomes in 2008-09. The tables also include data for 2007-08 and the percentage change in average total income between 2007-08 and 2008-09.

New South Wales

For New South Wales the average Total income from all sources (excluding Government pensions and allowances) was $48,755 in 2008-09, an increase of 4.9% from 2007-08.

Table 1 shows that the top five LGAs in New South Wales were in the Sydney capital city statistical division (SD) with the average Total incomes being substantially higher than those for New South Wales across most income sources. The LGAs of Mosman ($130,637) on Sydney's north shore and Woollahra ($116,922) in Sydney's east recorded the highest average Total incomes in Australia in 2008-09.

Table 1. TOP AVERAGE TOTAL INCOMES, New South Wales, 2008-09

2007-08

2008-09

Percent change

Top 5 LGAs

$

$

%

Mosman (A

131 606

130 637

-0.7

Woollahra (A)

116 376

116 922

0.5

Hunters Hill (A

95 027

105 730

11.3

North Sydney (A)

83 997

87 405

4.1

Ku-ring-gai (A)

82 195

85 727

4.3

Sydney SD

51 121

53 429

4.5

Balance of NSW (a) (b)

37 674

39 911

5.9

New South Wales (b)

46 480

48 755

4.9

(a) Excludes NSW Unknown(b) Includes Unincorporated NSW

Hunters Hill ($105,730), North Sydney ($87,405) and Ku-ring-gai ($85,727) were also in the top five highest average income LGAs in New South Wales. Hunters Hill recorded an 11.3% increase in average Total income from 2007-08 to 2008-09, with a 17.2% rise in average Own unincorporated business income and a 26.1% increase in average Investment income.

Outside of the capital city SD, the highest average Total income was in the LGA of Singleton with $55,577, an increase of 11.6% from 2007-08.

In Victoria the average Total income from all sources (excluding Government pensions and allowances) was $46,013 in 2008-09, a 5.3% increase from 2007-08.

Table 2 shows that the LGAs that recorded the highest average total incomes in 2008-09 were located in Melbourne's inner southern and eastern regions. The LGA of Stonnington recorded the state's highest average Total income ($84,394), increasing 5.2% from 2007-08. Average incomes increased in Wages and salaries (4.8%), Own unincorporated business (9.2%) and Investment (3.4%).

Table 2. TOP AVERAGE TOTAL INCOMES, Victoria, 2008-09

2007-08

2008-09

Percent change

Top 5 LGAs

$

$

%

Stonnington (C)

80 260

84 394

5.2

Bayside (C)

69 269

73 507

6.1

Boroondara (C)

68 533

72 667

6.0

Port Phillip (C)

63 431

67 625

6.6

Yarra (C)

54 942

58 622

6.7

Melbourne SD

46 187

48 810

5.7

Balance of Vic (a) (b)

36 556

37 986

3.9

Victoria (b)

43 704

46 013

5.3

(a) Excludes Vic. Unknown(b) Includes Unincorporated Vic.

The LGAs of Bayside ($73,507), Boroondara ($72,667), PortPhillip ($67,625) and Yarra ($58,622) were also in the top five.

Outside of the Melbourne SD, the highest average total income was in the LGA of Macedon Ranges with an average Total income of $46,747.

The average Total income from all sources (excluding Government pensions and allowances) in Queensland was $44,239, an increase of 5.6% from 2007-08.

Table 3 shows that the LGA of Isaac ($67,197) recorded the state's highest average Total income in 2008-09, followed by neighbouring Central Highlands ($58,642). Most income earned in these LGAs in 2008-09 was from Wages and salaries, with this income source representing 93.4% of personal income earned in Isaac and 89.4% in Central Highlands. Average Wage and salary incomes in these LGAs increased 12.0% and 9.2% respectively, while average Own unincorporated business income declined by 28.3% and 26.4%.

Table 3. TOP AVERAGE TOTAL INCOMES, Queensland, 2008-09

2007-08

2008-09

Percent change

Top 5 LGAs

$

$

%

Isaac (R)

61 236

67 197

9.7

Central Highlands (R)

54 386

58 642

7.8

Weipa (T)

54 089

58 191

7.6

Napranum (S)

54 137

58 136

7.4

Mapoon (S)

54 242

58 117

7.1

Brisbane SD

44 768

47 326

5.7

Balance of Qld (a)

39 348

41 477

5.4

Queensland

41 911

44 239

5.6

(a) Excludes Qld Unknown

Also in the top five LGAs in Queensland were Weipa ($58,191), Napranum ($58,136) and Mapoon ($58,117). These LGAs are located in far north Queensland. More than 95% of income earned in these LGAs in 2008-09 was from Wages and salaries.

For South Australia, the average Total income from all sources (excluding Government pensions and allowances) was $42,675, an increase of 5.4% from 2007-08.

Roxby Downs, a mining centre in the northern region of the state, recorded the highest average Total income in South Australia ($73,015), an increase of 10.0% from 2007-08 (Table 4). Average Wage and salary income rose by 12.0% in Roxby Downs during this period to $76,204. In 2008-09 the largest source of income earned in this LGA was Wages and salaries.

Table 4. TOP AVERAGE TOTAL INCOMES, South Australia, 2008-09

2007-08

2008-09

Percent change

Top 5 LGAs

$

$

%

Roxby Downs (M)

66 400

73 015

10.0

Walkerville (M)

67 690

70 552

4.2

Burnside (C)

59 363

63 531

7.0

Unley (C)

57 022

61 148

7.2

Adelaide (C)

57 682

61 022

5.8

Adelaide SD

41 914

44 296

5.7

Balance of SA (a) (b)

36 451

38 119

4.6

South Australia (b)

40 488

42 675

5.4

(a) Excludes SA Unknown(b) Includes Unincorporated SA

The inner-city LGA of Walkerville was second highest in average Total income in 2008-09 ($70,552), followed by the inner-city LGAs of Burnside ($63,531), Unley ($61,148) and Adelaide ($61,022).

In Western Australia the average Total income from all sources (excluding Government pensions and allowances) was $51,614, an 8.7% increase from 2007-08.

The five LGAs with highest average total income were all in the capital city SD of Perth (Table 5). The LGA of Mosman Park ($116,197) recorded the state’s highest average Total income in 2008-09, a 46.2% increase from 2007-08. From 2007-08 to 2008-09 average Investment income in this LGA increased by 106.8% to $78,836, while average Own unincorporated business income rose 57.0%. Most income in this LGA in 2008-09 was earned from Investments (49.7%) and Wages and salaries (40.9%). Mosman Park LGA had the third highest average Total income in Australia, behind the Sydney LGAs of Mosman ($130,637) and Woollahra ($116,922).

Table 5. TOP AVERAGE TOTAL INCOMES, Western Australia, 2008-09

2007-08

2008-09

Percent change

Top 5 SLAs

$

$

%

Mosman Park (T)

79 505

116 197

46.2

Peppermint Grove (S)

100 075

104 148

4.1

Cottesloe (T)

98 219

102 847

4.7

Nedlands (C)

82 840

91 033

9.9

Claremont (T)

75 781

84 512

11.5

Perth SD

48 588

52 784

8.6

Balance of WA (a)

44 113

48 029

8.9

Western Australia

47 488

51 614

8.7

(a) Excludes WA Unknown

After Mosman Park, the next highest average Total incomes in Western Australia were the adjoining LGAs of Peppermint Grove ($104,148) and Cottesloe ($102,847), which were also the fifth and sixth highest in Australia.

Nedlands ($91,033) and Claremont ($84,512) LGAs in the central metropolitan areas recorded increases of 9.9% and 11.5% respectively in average Total income from 2007-08 to 2008-09. The LGA of Nedlands recorded large increases in both average Wage and salary income (11.0%) and average Own unincorporated business income (11.4%) in this period. Claremont recorded a 12.1% increase in average Wage and salary income and a 24.3% increase in average Own unincorporated business income over the same period.

Outside of the Perth SD, key mining regions recording average Total incomes above the state average included the north-western LGAs of Roebourne ($78,084, up 11.1% from 2007-08), Ashburton ($72,889, up 9.0%), East Pilbara ($72,255, up 10.6%) and Port Hedland ($70,317, up 10.2%).

The average Total income from all sources (excluding Government pensions and allowances) in Tasmania was $39,935, an increase of 5.9% from 2007-08.

Table 6 shows that the LGA of Hobart recorded the highest average Total income in Tasmania ($51,228) in 2008-09, up 8.2% from the previous year. Average Wage and salary income increased 10.3% in this LGA and average Own unincorporated business income increased 17.8% from 2007-08. The nearby LGAs of Clarence and Kingborough also had average Total incomes in the top five.

Table 6. TOP AVERAGE TOTAL INCOMES, Tasmania, 2008-09

2007-08

2008-09

Percent change

Top 5 LGAs

$

$

%

Hobart (C)

47 363

51 228

8.2

West Coast (M)

43 377

47 031

8.4

Clarence (C)

39 070

41 510

6.2

Kingborough (M)

39 220

41 415

5.6

Burnie (C)

38 282

40 402

5.5

Greater Hobart SD

40 022

42 667

6.6

Balance of Tas (a)

35 928

37 828

5.3

Tasmania

37 718

39 935

5.9

(a) Excludes Tas. Unknown

The LGA of West Coast had the second highest average Total Income in Tasmania with $47,031 in 2008-09, while Burnie in the north west of the state had the fifth highest with $40,402.

In the Northern Territory the average Total income from all sources (excluding Government pensions and allowances) was $48,885, a 6.6% increase from 2007-08.

Table 7 shows that the LGAs of Darwin, Litchfield and Palmerston (all in the Darwin capital city) recorded the highest average Total incomes in 2008-09 with $51,729, $50,550 and $50,274 respectively. All of these LGAs recorded increases in average Total incomes from 2007-08 to 2008-09 above 6.0%.

The LGAs of Alice Springs ($46,903) and East Arnhem ($46,760) recorded the highest average Total incomes in 2008-09 for LGAs outside the Darwin capital city area, however these were below the Northern Territory average.

For more Personal Income data for local government areas, see Estimates of Personal Income for Small Areas, Time Series, 2003-04 to 2008-09 (cat. no. 6524.0.55.002). Compiled using aggregated individual income tax data from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), this release provides data on the number of individuals and the amount of income received from Wages and salaries, Own unincorporated business, Investment, Superannuation and annuities, Other income (excluding government pensions and allowances) and Total income (excluding government pensions and allowances). Data are available for the years 2003-04 to 2008-09 for various geographical levels including local government areas and statistical local areas, up to state/territory and Australia.